If I had to describe what takes up the majority of a college students time at large State schools, or basically anyone in the SEC (southeastern conference), I'm pretty sure it would be watching sports, going to school, watching sports, studying, watching sports, eating, watching sports...well you get the idea. But what is it like for the athletes, the ones who give countless hours of entertainment and something to obsess over?

Dying of curiosity, I asked an old friend, Hampton Tignor, to describe what its really like to be an athlete at a school that eats, breathes, and sleeps in sports. Hampton is the star catcher for our baseball team, and after four years of devoting his time to the Gators, he had a lot to say about his experiences.

Shelby: How intense is it being on a sports team at a huge school like UF?

Hampton Tignor: I think that life for student-athletes at any school is intense, but there is no question but that the student-athletes at the University of Florida have a lot of demands upon them! The time commitment involved with your sport eats up most of the time that other students have to do things like socialize, sleep, watch TV, be involved with campus clubs, etc. There is also a constant pressure to stay on top of your school work - which is actually a great thing because it would be easy to get behind in classes when your team is in the middle of their season. Our team is required to attend class and study hall every day. The schedule sounds impossible but, in truth, our team's support staff - our coaches, academic advisors, tutors, nutritionists, athletic directors, and trainers - make our lives very manageable.

HT: During baseball season, our team is usually playing four or five games per week - Friday, Saturday, Sunday and either Tuesday or Wednesday. Game days are always hectic. We will arrive at the field four hours before game time, eat a meal together, and then go through team meetings and pregame warm-ups. We will typically be at the field for at least an hour after the game as well. On the other days of the week, we will have one off day and one or two practice days. We're also in the weight room before class two or three mornings per week.

S:What are the perks of being an athlete at a sports-crazy school?

HT: The coolest thing about being an athlete at a large school is the amount of fan support! It is awesome to walk around campus during the day and see students wearing shirts supporting your team. And it is always a huge adrenaline rush to play a game in front of a large fan base. We are blessed to have solid financial backing, as well. Our team has the ability to use nice equipment and facilities, hire the top coaches, travel to different places, eat delicious food... I don't know that I will fully appreciate all of the perks about being a student athlete at Florida until I've graduated.

HT: Hands down, the best part about being on the baseball team is my teammates. We spend a part of every day together and I can call all of my teammates my brother. Some of my favorite memories from my baseball career are simply sitting in the locker room and chatting with guys or playing ping-pong. That is how you really begin to form a bond with friends.

S: Do you have any crazy stories from your experiences as a college baseball player?

HT: I don't have any crazy stories, but I think the coolest experiences are the ones that you can't really describe. One of my more vivid memories is beating one of our big in-state rivals in the postseason last year. It was a close game for a while and when we finally won it, I can remember looking up into our home stands and hearing the 7,000 fans in the stadium chant our fight song. It was surreal.